Have Acne? Wrinkles? Find Out Why (And What to Do)

Understanding the hormonal changes your body is going through can help you keep pesky skin problems to a minimum

The hormonal gist: "During puberty," says Dr. Wu, "your raging hormones make your sebaceous (oil) glands enlarge and pump out lots of oil. This is why teens are typically oily in their T-zone area, with large pores, blackheads and pimples." In their book, doctors Rodan and Fields point out that with the onset of menstruation, come other problems. "The hormonal surges that accompany menses frequently cause moodiness, bloating, cramps and acne."

Other problem-causing factors: Dr. Murad says that "teens and young adults are being exposed to more free radical aggressors and sun damage than ever before so it is imperative to wear sunscreen daily to minimize the possibility of skin cancer."